rightguard wrote:I tried it a little, I was over powered but it was nice. Seemed a little more bar pressure than my bolts but a little more direct control in the jumps. I'd like to try the 6. I'll tell him to try that.

exactly what I think too. I think Bolts look more stable, because the Ride kite pumps a little when nuclear gusts hit it, but it actually feels really stable in the gusty winds still.

The 6 is unreal Should be a fantastic Maui kite..here it rarely is windy enough for it.

This last couple weeks have been crazy, so many days that I feel lit on my 6. Yesterday was dead and then today was cranking. I wanted to try some loops today but to much wind for me. Really do want to try the Ride 6 but they don't have any demos yet.

I'm not sure if he had a kite properly that was properly inflated because I've been riding the 12m and the 10m now for about 2 months without any issues. I've been kiting for 10 years and I've been full time employed as an instructor for 5 years now. I work at a store that sells Naish as well as Best, Core, Slingshot, Wainman and Ozone. I can pick from any kite I want to buy for myself and I picked the Ride. aceras624's right if you want a high performance kite that the Ride will not fill the bill, but you can't compare that kite against the like's of an Edge. Those kites are night and day apart. If you want a simple do everything easy type kite then the Ride is a definite good choice. I bought a whole quiver of them (I pay for my own personal kites) because I found that it was simply a very easy do everything kite. It loops just fine, not a beast at the end of a leash type pull but it does all my kite loops with consistent smooth power. It jumps fine, does not have a high aspect kite rip you off float forever feeling but it jumps nearly as high, Drifts awesomely down the line, I'll put it as a top contender for a surf drifting kite.

I've had many kites over time and I actually sold my whole quiver of 2011 Rebels (no slouch of a kite) to replace them with the Ride. The Ride just does everything well, not any one thing awesome. That's what I needed since I ride mostly strapless but a times still love kicking out big jumps on a TT with loops.

Also want to comment about his beginner comments. I won't say that what he saw didn't happen but I've personally chosen the Ride as my quiver for teaching. I've used kites from all the other manufacturers we sell and I found the Ride to best suit as a great teaching kite.

does it release to one front line or both? might make a difference in safety to have the same release on whatever bar you use. You can make other bars work but you had better be SURE of what you are doing.